Christmastime is Here!

I don't go super crazy with holiday decorations, but I've been slowly accumulating things over the years and I'm really happy with my growing collection. I've tried to stick to a wintery, red and white type of feel — I'm pretty traditional in my Christmas tastes. I got the stockings from Target last year (hung by our bookshelf with care), including the two tiny felt ones for our cats.

I got these ric-rac trimmed towels last year at TJ Maxx, and this year I picked up the snowflake placemats (Target again). I've had my eye on these votive holders, but I haven't been able to quite justify the purchase yet (gimme some time, I'll think of something).

PS - Can you spy the cat portrait by Rachael? It makes me smile daily.

I was always a huge stickler for real trees growing up, but my man already had this faux tree when I moved in, and who am I to argue with something pretty, free, and incredibly easy to set up (it's even pre-lit)?

I've been collecting ornaments for pretty much my entire life, and I have a good mix of vintage, Hallmark and bulbs. It's always hard to pick favorites, but my Christmas Vacation ones make me smile every time I pass the tree. I wish I had the other two in the set (the RV and light-up house), and not only because they are bringing insane prices on eBay right now.

Lastly, one of my very favorite things in my house is this faux bois ceramic vase I got a few years ago from Anthropologie. I switch out the foliage depending on the season — lilacs for summer, Japanese lanterns for fall and holly for winter. Like the tree, I used to abhor fake flowers, but I've been able to find some really nice looking ones lately — a far cry from the dew-drops-on-roses that I will hate always and forever.

I'm really trying to enjoy Christmas this year because we were away for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I'm nearly done with my shopping, and soon it will be time for the annual viewing of Christmas Vacation, complete with rum and eggnog sipped from these mugs, but of course.